In bid to provide an international platform to local vegetable growers of the State, the Agriculture Department under the guidelines of the Minister, Badal completed all preparation to export the first lot of vegetables of the State likely on this Friday.  The Minister will flag off the first lot of vegetables to be sent to UAE via Kolkata on Thursday.

The move which brings smile on the face of farmers of the State amid the global epidemic when most of the economic activity has come to a grinding halt, the Agriculture Department with the help of e NAM and a private trading company of agricultural products,

All Season Farm Fresh is ready to send its first lot of vegetables in the international market.Secretary Marketing Board cum Nodal Officer e NAM, Abhisek Anand informed that the preparation to export vegetables to abroad is on final stage and almost all necessary works have been completed in this regard by the department.

"The vegetables have been checked by Agriculture and Process Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). It is found like exportable material and international standard. The department has completed its preparation to send the first lot of one tone to one and half tone of vegetables to Saudi Arabia. The process of cargo booking has started and we are waiting for its nod and time. Once it will give its schedule time then we send the vegetables," he added.

Earlier, the APEDA in a bid to promote exports from agriculturally prosperous regions of the Country including Jharkhand, had sent the first trial shipment of vegetables from Jamshedpur to Saudi Arabia by the sea route in last year. The Ladyfinger from a farmer from the District, Ram Khelawan Yadav's farms were sent to the Country.

"The Agriculture Department and Marketing Board has trained farmers of Nagri Blocks to produce vegetables of international standard. Vinod Mahto owned Nagri based Farms Produce Organisation was added to it.  Around 150 farmers are members of this FPO. They are producing Ladyfinger, Bitter Gourd, Pumpkin and Sweet Corn to send abroad. The test is mandatory to send all these things abroad. After the first lot the chain will form then the department will start to export it to other countries also," said Anand.

Jharkhand is one of the major producers of vegetables in the Country. The major vegetable crops grown in the state in order of area covered by them are tomato, lady finger, peas, cauliflower, brinjal, cabbage and bitter gourd.

The varied agro-climate conditions of Jharkhandare congenial for production of a variety of vegetables throughout the year. The vegetables produced in this plateau region have special comparative advantage as these are of better quality and ready for market when these are not produced in plains. Consequently, the off-season vegetables produced in this region fetch high prices.